Serena Guthrie: England captain announces pregnancy and retirement from netball | Netball News

The 32-year-old is retiring from all forms of international and elite domestic netball; she will not play in July’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham; Serena Guthrie: “Being a mum is an amazing new chapter in my life and I’m really excited about what that’s going to bring to me”

Serena Guthrie is expecting her first child with her partner Bob and has decided to retire from netball

Serena Guthrie has announced that she is pregnant and has made the decision to retire from international and elite-level netball, meaning she will miss this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

The England captain and Team Bath Netball athlete is widely regarded as one of the best mid-court players in the game. She won the first of her 110 senior England caps back in 2008 when she was just 18 years old.

Guthrie has represented her country at three Vitality Netball World Cups (2011, 2015 and 2019) and at two Commonwealth Games competitions (2014 and 2018).

She was an instrumental part of the England squad that won a historic gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and was selected to lead her country as captain during the 2019 Netball World Cup.

The 32-year-old played her domestic netball in England, New Zealand and Australia during her illustrious career and was a Superleague title winner with Team Bath Netball.

Guthrie was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for 2020 for services to netball.

She shared the news of her pregnancy and decision to retire from the sport with the England and Team Bath squads earlier this week.

“Bob and I are thrilled to be expecting our first child together,” Guthrie said. “Being a mum is an amazing new chapter in my life and I’m really excited about what that’s going to bring to me.

“I cannot wait to be part of the netball family willing on the Vitality Roses in the Commonwealth Games this summer in Birmingham and being the biggest cheerleader for Team Bath for the rest of the Vitality Netball Superleague season.

It’s been an absolute pleasure and honour to have been able to play netball domestically and internationally for so long, working and playing alongside the most incredible group of athletes and staff along the way. It’s been a real privilege to be the Vitality Roses captain for as long as I have and I want to thank everyone for their support in helping to make my journey in netball so special.

Serena Guthrie

Guthrie’s England head coach shared her delight for her captain and said that the mid-courter’s imprints would be left on the national squad, as England aim to defend the title they won on the Gold Coast.

“I’m overjoyed for both Serena, Bob and their families at the news of Serena’s pregnancy,” Jess Thirlby said.

“There is nothing more important in life than life itself and to be fortunate enough to begin the journey of parenthood is always such a special moment. Serena has long been a part of her own Vitality Roses family and has led them as captain in her own maternal way, invested in each and every person and wanting the best for them and out of them.

“As Serena embarks on the next chapter of her life she leaves her DNA across this exciting Vitality Roses team and in her own, very special way, has helped to ready the team for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.

Serena is the ultimate team player, always putting the needs of the team above herself. Whilst we will miss her hugely it is a time to celebrate all that Serena has contributed not only to the Vitality Roses but to the sport overall. Her legacy will continue to live on in generations of players to come, such is the impact she has had on and beyond the court.

Jess Thirlby

“Not only is Serena one of the most well-respected netballers across the global landscape but she is much loved by the fans and her team-mates.

“It has always been her character, charisma and free-spirited outlook on life that has translated on court in how she performs, and that has drawn so many people into the game.”

England’s Vitality Roses will now prepare for a home Commonwealth Games without their captain, while Team Bath Netball will endeavour to win a Vitality Netball Superleague title without her.

England’s Commonwealth Games campaign starts on July 29 at the NEC Arena in Birmingham and the team will be first on court at the NEC Arena.

The Roses’ opening match will be against Trinidad and Tobago. Then, they will take on the Malawi Queens on July 30, before partaking in successive contests on August 1 and 2 against Northern Ireland and Uganda.

The outfit’s final group match will be a showdown against the reigning world champions, New Zealand on August 4.